BUDDING catwalk kings and queens struck their best poses as they battled it out to become Hampshire’s next top model.

The hunt to discover the county’s brightest modelling stars to strut their stuff in front of the camera reached its climax at the Swan Centre in Eastleigh as more than 100 wannabes glided into the finals of the Daily Echo-backed ModelSearch competition.

Having already impressed judges with their natural beauty and elegance at two scouting days, the finalists from each category got one last chance to shine. The shopping aisles of the Swan Centre got a glitzy makeover, transformed into catwalk to make a Kate Moss proud.

Shoppers were treated to a spectacular dance display by the Daily Echo Out There models before each of the four final catwalk shows. Proving you are never too young to model was Phoebe Rogers, 4, and Lucas Annalls, 5, winners of the four to seven age category.

Jorja Sandpearl, ten and Joshua Douglas, eight, wowed the judges to win the eight to 12 category, while Tes MacDougal, 14, Magdalene Ocran, 13 and Courtney Brooks, 16 won top spot in the 13 to 19 age category.

Not to be outdone by the youngsters, gardener Elliot Crump, 24, from Winchester, and mum-of-two Toni House, 30, were winners of the 20 and over age group. Elliot said: “It was nerve-racking but I think I showed off a bit and had a brilliant time.

“My friends have always wondered why I did not become a model so now this is my chance to take it as far as I can.”